Latest posts by Elaine Diaz
Richard Blanco: America's First Latino Inaugural Poet
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, requested his inaugural poem from Richard Blanco, son of Cuban immigrants and the first Latino, Spanish speaker, and gay man to receive this honor.
What Happened to the Cable? Cubans Discuss Internet Access
Over a year after the arrival of a new fiber optic cable to Cuba, the island has failed to see improvements in connectivity speed nor an increase in access to the Internet.
Cubans Defend Themselves Against Esperanza Aguirre's Accusations
The president of the People's Party in Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, stated that she did not recognize "any justice on the island of Cuba" and called the time that Ángel Carromero spent in prison "torture," after he was condemned to imprisonment in Havana for "involuntary manslaughter," in the car accident that cost the lives of Cuban dissidents Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero. The Cuban blogosphere reacts.
Tiptoeing Tradition, Cuba Welcomes the New Year
The year 2012, marked by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba, Hurricane Sandy's trail of destruction, and the controversial legal regulation of the public use of music also made a mark on the island's blogosphere. The extension of Internet access was also a topic that set the digital agenda.
Cuba: Yanet Bermoy Wins First Medal for Cuba in London Olympics
Cuban judoka, Yanet Bermoy has won the first medal for Cuba in the London 2012 Olympics. Cuba's blogosphere is buzzing about the win
Cuba: Kiss-in for Diversity and Equality
The "Kiss-in for Diversity and Equality" held in Havana commemorated the anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Riots in New York in 1969, which sparked the civil rights movement in the LGBT community.
Cuba: National Meeting of Bloggers Ends in Controversy
The Meeting of Cuban Bloggers was held on 27th and 28th April 2012. More than 60 bloggers from all the provinces in the country spent two days sharing their experiences at the University of Matanzas, east of the Cuban capital. The event's final statement sparked controversy amongst different members of the national blogging community.
Cuba: What Did Pope Benedict XVI Leave Behind?
Two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI left the island, Cuba returns to normalcy. Elaine Diaz offers a review of the different conversations and debates after the Pope's visit that have appeared on Cuban digital blogs and social media.
Cuba: Pope Benedict XVI Takes a Glance at Cuba's Future
Pope Benedict XVI's arrival at the western province Santiago de Cuba placed the Caribbean nation at the Twitter Trending Topics. Blogs and social media are raging with netizen's opinions on the Pope's visit to the island.
Cuba: Diverse Opinions on Pope Benedict's Visit
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Cuba has caused a great deal of controversy and debate in the Island. Blogs and social media have been a platform for an array of opinions. Elaine Díaz takes a look at some of these online conversations.
Cuba: Guardians of Urban Green Spaces
In December 2006 a century-old Ceiba tree was cut down in the San Agustín neighborhood of Havana, the Cuban capital. This sad event inspired a group of young Cubans to found environmental group El Guardabosques (The Guardian of the Forest or Forest Ranger).
Cuba: A Tireless Defender of Gay Rights
Francisco Rodríguez Cruz is a Cuban journalist and activist who for over a year has maintained a controversial blog committed to advancing the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Cuba.
Cuba: Exciting First Meeting of Twitter Users in Havana
The first meeting of users of the social network Twitter was celebrated in Havana on July 1 at 4:00 pm at 23rd and 12th of the Vedado district and in the Pabellón Cuba. The event hosted almost 100 people, mostly young journalism students, administrators, professors, journalists and bloggers. Netizens reflect and comment on the exciting and controversial event.
Cuba: Twitter Users Will Meet for the First Time
The first meeting of Cuban Twitter users was announced by @leunamrguez (Leunam Rodríguez), for July 1st starting at 4pm on central 23rd street and 12 La Habana. The event has had a tremendous welcome in and outside of Cuba.
Cuba: Return Prohibited for U.S. Professor and Blogger
Ted Henken, professor at Baruch College at the City University of New York, a well-versed blogger in the Cuban blogosphere, has been informed by authorities from the Department of Security of the State of Cuba that he will not be returning to the island. Over the course of his 12 day stay, Henken interviewed over 40 bloggers for an investigation about blogs and the Internet in Cuba.
Cuba: What do the Cables from Havana Say? (Part III)
In the last part of a series on WikiLeaks and Cuba, author Elaine Díaz analyzes the content of cables regarding the Cuban opposition and the role of bloggers.
Cuba: What do the Cables from Havana Say? (Part II)
Speculation about the health of the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz, was one of the main issues discussed in various cables revealed by WikiLeaks. In this second part of a series, our author Elaine Díaz analyzes the content of the controversial diplomatic cables.
Cuba: What do the Cables from Havana Say? (Part I)
Around 506 diplomatic cables of the 250,000 released by WikiLeaks on November 28, 2010 proceed from the American Section with Interests in Havana. Until February 2011, only 34 messages had been declassified. Global Voices author Elaine Díaz analyzes their content in the first part of a series on the cables and Cuba.
Cuba: UN Vote on LGBT Rights Sparks Controversy
During the UN General Assembly, Cuba supported the amendment to remove the explicit reference to sexual orientation from the periodic resolution condemning the extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions. The vote has sparked a debate in the Cuban blogosphere that has reached the governmental sphere.
Cuba: Solidarity on the Net After Plane Crash
A plane crashed near the town of Guasimal, located some 15 kilometers from Sancti Spiritus province, in central Cuba. Sixty-eight people died. Minutes later, Cubans using Twitter started exchanging information on the deadly accident.
